Houston Rockets Move Forward, Trade Kevin Porter Jr. to Oklahoma City Thunder
HOUSTON — The Houston Rockets are trading Kevin Porter Jr. and two future second-round picks to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
In exchange, the Rockets will receive Victor Oladipo and Jeremiah Earl-Robinson. They will also receive the Minnesota Timberwolves' second-round pick from the Milwaukee Bucks. ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski was the first to report Tuesday morning.
The 22-year-old guard is entering the first of a four-year $82.5 million contract extension for the 2023-24 campaign. He is slated to make $15.9 million for the upcoming season. But according to Wojnarowski, the Thunder will waive Porter immediately.
Porter was arrested on felony assault charges following an incident with girlfriend Kysre Gondrezick on Sept. 11 in New York. He was released the next day on $75,000 bail. Monday morning, a court hearing dropped one of three charges against Porter.
He still faces charges of second-degree strangulation and third-degree assault — in which Porter has pleaded not guilty.
Former Rockets guard Kevin Porter Jr. (3) handles the ball against the Los Angeles Lakers during the game at Toyota Center.
Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports
"The allegations are deeply troubling," general manager Rafael Stone said. "I informed him he could not be a part of the Houston Rockets."
The trade ends Porter's three-year stint in Houston. He had appeared in 146 games with the Rockets since 2021. He has averaged 17.2 points on 42.8 percent shooting from the field, 36.1 percent shooting from behind the arc, 6.0 assists and 1.2 steals.
The Cleveland Cavaliers originally drafted Porter with the No. 30 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. After playing his rookie season, Porter did not join the team the following year due to personal reasons.
The Rockets traded for Porter in January 2021 for a top-55 protected second-round pick.
